Tomar's Sorrow. 3

"What have I done? Tomar asked himself. "What have I become? The shame I have brought on my family."
Tomar slowly walked down the trail pulling his horse laden with stolen dragon gold.This is not me, I never stolen anything in my life. Now to feed my family I'm was reduced to being a thief. This won't do, not at all.With his head down he followed behind Terek and Gird not wanted to catch up to them.
"Hurry damn it!" Terek yell. " Or were leaving you for the wolves."
Tomar didn't care right now, all he had on his mind was how he was going to explain this to his wife. She would never abide him stealing, even to feed her and the children.
"I said move it." said Terek.
As he got on his horse and kicked it into motion. Gird laughed at him as he followed Terek. Tomar kept walking, he wanted as much distance as he could get between them. He hated the brothers now. This was not what he was promised. Easy gold, he thought he was going mining not stealing. Even though it was dragons, it wasn't his to take. That's why he left the pendant.He knew what he did was wrong and at sometime someone or thing would be coming after him. As long as his family doesn't suffer, he'll take his punishment. Up ahead he saw the brothers gallop away. Good riddance to them. Now he could be alone with his anguish. Tomar saw a clearing ahead and decided to make camp for the night. He took down his supplies and sleeping things and set it all out . After starting a fire and making dinner he came to a decision. He couldn't take the gold home. It didn't belong to him. Tomar decide to keep enough to feed his family and bury the rest. Later he could return it. But what about the Jewel? For some reason he just couldn't part with it. Something was special about this gem. He had no idea what, but he knew he had to keep it, and keep it warm. It was almost like one of his children.Strange he thought. Feeling this about an object, but he did. Tomar dug a hole and placed the gold in. He sat the ruby on top and covered it.That will keep it warm. Fixing a cup hot tea Tomar saw a man come into the clearing.
"Good even sir." said the hunter. " Beautiful night."
" Yes ."Tomar said, " Will you join me for some tea."
"Don't mind if i do." said the hunter. " My names is Valen. I was hunting deer when something made me come this way."
"Really." Tomar said. " Are you hungry? I have more then enough."
"Why yes ." Valen smiled. " Thank you."
They ate and talk for a while passing the time.
" I have something to tell you Tomar." Valen said.
" How did you know my name?" Tomar looked at him in suspicion.
" I'm a gypsy." He told Tomar as he got up to leave." Your doing the right thing."
" What?" Tomar said.
" Good eve to you friend." Valen walked back into the forest living Tomar scratching his head. That was puzzling Tomar thought. But he had a lot on his mind so he pulled his blankets over him and fell asleep. As the sun rose Tomar woke with the first ray to hit him. All night long he dreamed of dragons. Fire and ice, and a young red dragon named Blaze. He felt close to this dragon, like family. Blaze was a brilliant shade of red with gold undertones on his back and belly. Tomar didn't know why but this dragon gave him the warmest happy feeling. With a smile from his dreams he packed his things. He took the gem and buried the gold then went on his way down the mountain. For some reason he felt better about what he had done, almost forgiven. But getting ready of the gold wasn't the answer he needed because he still had the gem. As he walked he stared into the depths of the ruby. It most be hallucinations he thought. But he could swear he could see dragons flying.
[YOU SEE US.]
Tomar stopped and almost dropped the gem. He thought he had heard someone talking to him. He looked around, deep into the forest to see if someone was spying on him. But there wasn't anyone there. Tomar shrugged and went on walking down the trail.
It was a beautiful day out in the Durmista mountains. For some reason Tomar thought the skies looked bluer then usual. The smells of the forest seemed so much clearer then they ever had before. He looked up in the trees and a sprite flying like fiery spark slipping from tree to tree. He knew there were fairies and spites nearby, the children had talked about seeing them ever since he was a kid, but he had never once seen one before. It flew down to dance around his head. It was amazing. It was like magic.
[WE ARE MAGIC.]
Tomar laughed at the idea. He thought had to be hearing things, He felt happy but maybe that was just his mind slipping away from him.
[YOUR SPECIAL. NOT CRAZY. YOU WILL SEE SOON.]
For the rest of the trip down the mountain the voice spoke occasionally. A few times he even answered it back getting use to his madness. As he came close to Haleama, he saw many of his neighbors going about their daily chores. Kent from up the road from him waved as he led his flock of sheep past him. He looked at them and suddenly he was so hungry for lamb.
[FOOD]
As he passed , the sheep suddenly got nervous, kicked at the air bleating and stampeded away. Tomar reached out and grabbed Kent just in time to keep him from being dragged away and trampled. Kent thanked him and ran off to get help in rounding up his flock.
Strange, Tomar thought. Those sheep were usually so docile they would eat right out of your hand. Today they seemed afraid. Moving on, Tomar walked up the main road into town passing the blacksmith shop, the feed and general store where his oldest son Luca worked, then the livery and the kennel. As he passed the dogs began to bark furiously and jump at the fences that kept them caged in. Frightened, Tomar hurried across the road to the market where he picked up a few supplies for home then made his way out through the north entrance to the little farm his parents had left him.
Home sweet home with all the trouble behind him.
[ALL BUT ME.]
"Yeah well I'll deal with you after I get me a little rest."